Ankle-support



(N Model.)

A. W. WALKBY. ANKLE SUPPORT. 1 No. 540,931. Patented June 11, `1895.

WITN ESSES ALFRED VALKEY, OF JERMYN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANKLE-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 10,931, dated June 11, 1895.

Application letl March l, 1 895. Serial No. 540,138. (No model.)A

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. WALKEY, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Jerzic myn, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle-Supports for Skates and Fastenings Therefor; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in buckles, and has particular relation to buckles applied to skates, ankle supports, or the skates themselves.

The invention consists o f the combination of two members of a buckle; one having an aperture with an undercut edge and the other having a projection adapted to lock under said edge and means for attaching said members to an article.

It also consists of the combination with an ankle brace of suitable shape and provided with securing straps, of buckles, each comprising two members; one of which is'providedwith an aperture having an undercut edge, and also va strap securing loop, and the other with a projection adapted to engage said undercut edge and also means for adj ustably securing a strap thereto.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereainfter more particularly set forth and claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents perspective views of the two members of the buckle slightly separated. Fig.2 represents a central vertical section of said buckle with the parts interlocking. y Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of said invention applied to an ankle support or brace, and

Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the same;

A in the drawings represents ne member of the buckle; B, the other; C, the ankle support or brace and c c c2 the attaching straps of the same.

The member A is, preferably, a slightly 'curved plate adapted to conform to the curved surface upon which the buckle is to be applied. This plate is provided with a semicircnlar aperture a, the straght'edge a of which is undercut and the segmental curved edge a2of which is beveled downwardly and inwardly. A strap retaining loop as is also provided upon the upper surface of this plateA near the rear thereof. for the accommodation of rivets are also provided in said plate. Theplate or member B is also slightly curved to conform to the shape of the plate A and is provided upon its under side with a semi-circular projection b the straight 'edge b' of which is undercut to adapt it to lock under the undercut edge a when the two members are put together. The under side of this projection o is beveledupwardly and rearwardly away fromthe straight edge a. The upper side of this plate Bis provided at each end with a transverse strap 'loop b2 and at its center with a vertical stud lplates B are held to a certain .extent against lateral movement.

The ankle support C is made of leather in any suitable form that will effectively brace the ankle to which it is applied. The strap c2 is of any ordinary construction and is secured by stitching or otherwise on one side of the brace and passes under the instep and is secured on the opposite side by a suitable buckle c3. The ankle strap c and the leg strapc are each secured at one end to the brace and provided at the opposite ends with the member B of the buckle; themember A of the buckle being secured to the opposite side of the brace. r

This buckle is intended for use where there is a longitudinal strain with a solid foundation for the buckle to rest upon to prevent lateral movement. The buckle is peculiarly adapted for use with skates or skaters'appli- Suitable apertures 0,4

ances as it can easily be unfastened without removing the gloves and even if the skaters hands are cold and stiii".

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a buckle the combination of two plates, one having an aperture with an undercut edge and also a strap loop, and the other having an undercut projection on its lower side and strap loops, and a strap engaging projection on its upper side whereby a strap may be adjustably connected thereto, substantially as described.

2. In an ankle support the combination with a suitable shaped supporting piece of securing straps and buckles for the same; said buckles comprising two members, one having an undercut aperture and being attached to said supporting piece and the other having an undercut projection adapted to engage said undercut aperture and being attached to one of the securing straps, substantially as set forth.

3. In an ankle supporter the combination with a suitable shaped supporting piece of securing straps and buckles for the same; said buckles comprising two members, one having an undercut aperture and a strap loop and being attached to said supporting piece, and the other having an undercut'l projection, strap loops, and a strap engaging projection and being adj ustably attached by said loops and projection to the strap and being adapted to engage said undercut projection, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED XV. W'ALKEY.

Witnesses:

J AMES ALLAN, ALFRED GRIFFITHS. 

